Rodney Frelinghuysen: Obamacare replacement ‘unacceptable’

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.)
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.)
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Early last week, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) told a telephone town hall that he was “not sold” on his party’s plan to replace Obamacare, though he felt duty-bound to follow GOP leadership on key issues.

By Friday, it was no deal.

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.)
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.)

“Seven years after enactment of Obamacare, I wanted to support legislation that made positive changes to rescue healthcare in America.

“Unfortunately, the legislation before the House today is currently unacceptable as it would place significant new costs and barriers to care on my constituents in New Jersey,” Frelinghuysen said in a statement.

House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the American Health Care Act on Friday when it was clear that he and President Trump had failed to secure enough GOP votes for passage of the measure, which scored low in public polls.

The only Republican in New Jersey’s congressional delegation expressing support for the bill was Rep. Tom MacArthur of the 3rd District.

Last-minute sweeteners to ultra-conservative Republicans left a bad taste with Frelinghuysen.

“In addition to the loss of Medicaid coverage for so many people in my Medicaid-dependent state, the denial of essential health benefits in the individual market raise serious coverage and cost issues,” said the 12-term congressman, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.

“I remain hopeful that the American Health Care Act will be further modified.  We need to get this right for all Americans,” Frelinghuysen said.

‘HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR’

NJ 11th for Change, an organization that has been pressing Frelinghuysen for a public town hall meeting, welcomed his health care stance.

“Mr. Frelinghuysen’s statement shows that these tireless voices of our grassroots organization were heard loud and clear, together with countless citizens across the district,” NJ 11th said online.

Activists have been gathering at Frelinghuysen’s Morristown office every Friday to raise concerns about affordable care, Russian interference in the presidential election, environmental protections and other issues.

Rachel Maddow cites NJ 11th for Change n MSNBC.
Rachel Maddow cites NJ 11th for Change n MSNBC.

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow cited the group’s efforts on her program Friday. NJ 11th for Change estimated 30,000 of Frelinghuysen’s constituents would have lost coverage under the American Health Care Act.

“Until AHCA, Rep. Frelinghuysen had fallen in line with President Trump and Speaker Ryan for every single vote of the 115th Congress. That he broke with the Trump/Ryan agenda on health care reform is a direct result of the pressure NJ11th For Change brought to bear,” NJ 11th for Change said.

The organization pledged to “continue to vigilantly watch Rep. Frelinghuysen to ensure that he is steadfast in representing his constituents’ interests. We will monitor that the Congressman’s future actions match today’s statement and the expectations of the thousands of constituents who demanded he protect our care.”

1 COMMENT

  1. For Rich Zeoli from 1210 Talk Radio to link “Rodney” to the Freedom Caucus as the reason for a no on the bill is why Talk radio is so deceptive. Rich knows better, and to use the good name of Rodney Frelinghuysen as in any way connected to that Freedom Groups need to see others suffer is simply wrong.

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